The explorers - having barely escaped the burning of the cobwebs in the west hallway - ready their weapons as the huge, black spider appears through the rising smoke. The smoldering, seven-legged creature hisses and snaps his venomous jaws as it prepares to attack the arsonists that destroyed its nest...

Van shakes his head, surprised the flame moved so quickly and engulfed the hallway and upset that he didn't consider that possiblilty. The burns sting and the smoke is causing his eyes to water. However, Van readies his battle axe to attack as he sees the nasty spider approaching."C'mon you bastard! I'll crush your other seven legs. Then you'll really have something to scream about!"

The spider leaps forward with stunning speed and attacks the first one within its reach: Albin turns away just in time as the snapping jaws dripping with poison miss his arm by a whisker...

Freda's bow twangs sharply as she fires two arrows at the spider's head, one grazing its brow, leaving behind a nasty cut. Meanwhile, Van lifts his heavy battle axe above his head and dashes towards the spider: he lands a devastating blow, cleaving deep into its body. As he pulls the hefty hatchet out, a thick yellow-white fluid gushes from the wound with pulsating gulps. The spider stumbles and sinks to the floor, its legs twitching as it breathes its last breath...

Lisglen watches the grotesque spider fall and stop moving, with a satisfied look on his face. He then looks with renewed worry at the now burnt tunnel entrance. "Excellently done, Van! Now, if nobody is too badly hurt, maybe we can now make a more ordered progress into these parts?" he proposes.

As a matter of fact, Van has taken quite a beating from the scalding flames and his burns look very painful. Albin puts down his torch and applies some soothing ointment and bandage in order to bind his wounds, after which Van feels much better. Albin then picks up his torch and illuminates the western hallway, its walls blackened with soot but other than that seemingly empty. Not a sound can be heard coming from the corridor.

Freda breathes heavily as she gets to her feet - grimacing as her clothing brushes against her burnt flesh - and retrieves her arrows of which one is still usable: "Looks like this was the only surviving inhabitant..."

Holger stands at the side, leaning against a wall, catching his breath and stifling a moan. He has seen better days as well: the left side of his face has been severely affected by the fire.

Lisglen casts CLW on Holger. Once he is satisfied with the result, he says: "The True Light once again humbles me by its power. If everybody is ready, let's move on! -- and don't forget to look up in these treacherous halls." He then goes about doing exactly that.